Arthur Laurents News

Film and stage legend and two-time Tony Award winner Lauren Bacall, passed away last week (first reported by TMZ) at the age of 89. The legendary actress suffered a massive stroke and died at home (New York City's famous Dakota Building) according to a family member. BroadwayWorld remembers the legend below.

Film and stage legend and two-time Tony Award winner Lauren Bacall, passed away last week (first reported by TMZ) at the age of 89. The legendary actress suffered a massive stroke and died at home (New York City's famous Dakota Building) according to a family member. BroadwayWorld remembers the legend below.

EMMY Award-Winner Bruce Vilanch stars in a staged reading of RUBBLE, a new comedy by 4 time EMMY Award-Winning 'The Simpsons' writer, Mike Reiss at The Provincetown Theater. 'The Sopranos' star and Broadway veteran Jerry Adler also joins the cast. The staged reading of RUBBLE will be directed by James Valletti for one night only to benefit The Provincetown Theater. All proceeds go directly to support The Provincetown Theater.

Hands on a Hardbody is a new rock musical about 10 Texans whose new lease on life is so close they can touch it. Under a scorching sun for days on end and armed with nothing but hope and ambition, they'll fight to keep at least one hand on a brand-new truck in order to win it. In this hard-fought contest, only one winner can drive away with the American dream.

Think about the combined genius of Arthur Laurents, Leonard Bernstein, Stephen Sondheim, and Jerome Robbins and the driving inspiration of William Shakespeare that created West Side Story. Then realize how awesome a dare it is to mount this classic musical, to be true to its artistry, its complexity, and its messages ~ especially for an ensemble of teenage actors. And then, stand up and give a hearty hurrah for the cast of Valley Youth Theatre which has aced the challenge. Directed by Bobb Cooper, VYT's Producing Artistic Director, the Jets and the Sharks explode onto the stage of the Herberger Theater with verve and muscularity.

Why do some actors make it and others don't? Ken Womble sets out to find the answer to this question, one that has fascinated and tormented him for years, in his new book, INSIDE ACT: How Ten Actors Made it and How You Can Too (Hansen Publishing Group, 373 pages, $24.99). To celebrate the release, BroadwayWorld will be featuring chapter previews from the new book. Today, hear from Tony Yazbeck!

Valley Youth Theatre (VYT) opens its 26th Anniversary Season with the original Broadway musical version of West Side Story at the Herberger Theatre Center from today, August 8 through 24.

Today, in honor of Steven Spielberg's admission this week that he is contemplating a big screen remake of it, we salute one of the most high profile musicals ever written, WEST SIDE STORY.

Multi-award-winning director and producer Steven Spielberg has confirmed preliminary plans to consider creating a new cinematic adaptation of the iconic Golden Age musical WEST SIDE STORY according to a new interview that occurred earlier this week.

At the beginning of this year, a new theatre-centric podcast debuted, and has been supplying extremely insightful and heartfelt stories ever since. One of the show's charms is the amount of love and appreciation that host Patrick Hinds shows each guest. For their most recent episode, Hinds interviewed Tony-winner Karen Olivo, and what resulted was a moving hour of conversation. Olivo has been one of Broadway's most talented stars for over a decade, but in 2013, she decide to 'retire' and leave New York City.

Experience the passion of a cast of emerging professionals who will take you on a flight of emotions with Arthur Laurents, Leonard Bernstein, Stephen Sondheim, and Jerome Robbin's classic 'WEST SIDE STORY'

Rehearsals start today at The 5th Avenue Theatre for one singular sensation: the celebrated Broadway triumph, A Chorus Line. Kicking off the company's 2014/15 season, this thrilling 5th Avenue production has plucked fabulously talented dancers from many of Seattle's chorus lines and is putting them center stage, including Greg McCormick Allen, Taryn Darr, Gabriel Corey, Trina Mills, Mallory King, Connor Russell, Sarah Rose Davis, Taylor Niemeyer, Eric Esteb, and many others. The 5th is also pleased to welcome back Los Angeles triple-threat Chryssie Whitehead in the role of Cassie. Whitehead turned heads and shook audiences with her smoking performance of Lola in Damn Yankees. Broadway's Andrew Palermo makes his 5th Avenue debut as Zach.

On Monday, August 4th the Theater People Podcast welcomes Tony-winner Karen Olivo. Olivo made headlines in 2013 when she announced on her blog that she would be taking a step back from acting and leaving New York City in order to move to Madison, Wisconsin to pursue other interests and passions.

As BWW previously reported, Matthew Warchus will not be joining Barbra Streisand as helmer for Universal's upcoming GYPSY big-screen adaptation, but now Nikki Finke writes that Babs could be considering a dual role as 'Mama Rose' and director for the project.

Valley Youth Theatre (VYT) opens its 26th Anniversary Season with the original Broadway musical version of West Side Story at the Herberger Theatre Center from August 8 through 24.

The Old Globe will host the 2014 Globe Gala tonight, Saturday, July 26 in support of the theatre's education and artistic programs. The annual event will feature a one-night-only performance by Broadway veteran and Tony Award winner Laura Benanti (Gypsy, Into the Woods, NBC's The Sound of Music Live!, 'The Good Wife,' 'Go On'), based on her smash hit New York cabaret (and new CD) In Constant Search of the Right Kind of Attention. Nina Doede, Deni Jacobs, and Sheryl White serve as Co-Chairs of the 2014 Globe Gala. Leading underwriters include Audrey Geisel, Darlene Marcos Shiley, Conrad Prebys and Debra Turner, and Sheryl and Harvey White.

San Diego Musical Theatre's 2015 Season brings your favorite movies to the stage at its new home at the Historic Spreckels Theatre, on Broadway, in downtown San Diego. Scroll down for details!

SAN DIEGO (July 24, 2014)-The Old Globe will host the 2014 Globe Gala on Saturday, July 26 in support of the theatre's education and artistic programs. The annual event will feature a one-night-only performance by Broadway veteran and Tony Award winner Laura Benanti (Gypsy, Into the Woods, NBC's The Sound of Music Live!, "The Good Wife," "Go On"), based on her smash hit New York cabaret (and new CD) In Constant Search of the Right Kind of Attention. Nina Doede, Deni Jacobs, and Sheryl White serve as Co-Chairs of the 2014 Globe Gala. Leading underwriters include Audrey Geisel,Darlene Marcos Shiley, Conrad Prebys and Debra Turner, and Sheryl and Harvey White.

The Old Globe will host the 2014 Globe Gala on Saturday, July 26 in support of the theatre's education and artistic programs. The annual event will feature a one-night-only performance by Broadway veteran and Tony Award winner Laura Benanti (Gypsy, Into the Woods, NBC's The Sound of Music Live!, 'The Good Wife,' 'Go On'), based on her smash hit New York cabaret (and new CD) In Constant Search of the Right Kind of Attention. Nina Doede, Deni Jacobs, and Sheryl White serve as Co-Chairs of the 2014 Globe Gala.

The Women's Association of NJPAC presents Nothin' Like A Dame featuring Tony Award winning performers Laura Benanti (Gypsy), Barbara Cook (Music Man), Patina Miller (Pippin) and Faith Prince (Guys and Dolls) and Special Guests: "Honorary Dame" Brian d'Arcy James (Shrek): Musical Director, Sirius XM Personality Seth Rudetsky Musical Director and Sirius XM Personality Seth Rudetsky on Saturday September 27, 2014 at 7PM in Prudential Hall. Tickets for Nothin' Like A Dame go on sale Friday, July 25th at 10AM and at the Box Office at 12 Noon. Reserve your performance only tickets at NJPAC.org or 888.GO.NJPAC (888.466.5722) and for full Gala tickets or sponsorships including cocktail reception, dinner, dancing and valet parking call (973) 353-7043 or email womensassociation@njpac.org.